LOS ANGELES, United States, Dec 14 – Stephen Curry scored 30 points to win his duel with Anthony Davis as the Golden State Warriors dug deep to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans while the Cleveland Cavaliers demolished the Memphis Grizzlies.

Reigning NBA MVP Curry’s haul in a 113-109 victory included five three-pointers as well as four rebounds and seven assists to boost the Warriors to 22-4 for the season.

Davis, second only to Russell Westbrook in the points scoring charts this season, averaging just over 30 per game, scored 28 points in the Pelicans’ losing effort.

Davis also pulled down eight rebounds and produced three assists but ultimately the Warriors had too much firepower for the home team.

Kevin Durant added 27 points for the Dubs while Klay Thompson finished with 17 and Draymond Green made his first triple double of the season — 12 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists.

Green also single-handedly stifled Davis in the final 4:48, preventing the Pelicans from making a single field goal.

“Draymond loves being in that situation,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He relishes it. He really does, even against a guy like Anthony Davis, who’s so good. He’s a nasty defender.”

In Cleveland, Kevin Love scored 29 points as the Cavaliers shrugged off the absence of Kyrie Irving to down the Memphis Grizzlies 103-86.

Tuesday’s game at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena was the first of back-to-back games between the two sides. The Cavaliers face the Grizzlies again on Wednesday at Memphis’s FedEx Forum.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said afterwards he had purposely chosen James and Love on Tuesday, rather than split the duo up over the two games.

“We’re home to play in front of our fans… So, with two of the Big Three, I know we can win that game,” Lue said.

“It will be hard to go down and travel, and to ask one person to try to carry the team, especially the way the offense runs,” added Lue, confirming James, Love and Irving would all miss Wednesday’s road trip.

Grizzlies coach David Fizdale bemoaned a second quarter performance which saw his team fall behind by 22 points at one stage.

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